Rock Lobster Industry

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries on cost recovery.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: Of what?

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Cost recovery.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: Of what?

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Rock lobster.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: In 2022, the Premier wrote to key stakeholders reinforcing his government's commitment to reduce licence fees by 50 per cent for fishers in the northern and southern rock lobster fisheries. He wrote, and I quote:

My government stands ready to continue to assist the industry, with a further commitment to review the effectiveness of the current cost recovery model, by considering the merits of different approaches to recovering fees for services that could incorporate more flexibility into what are increasingly volatile markets.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Have rock lobster licence fees reduced over the last two years?

2. If not, when can rock lobster fishers expect to see the 50 per cent reduction in licence fees promised over two years ago by this state government?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for her question, but I think she is quite confused. The 50 per cent reduction in rock lobster licence fees was an election commitment for the first year of this government. That was delivered.